WAMPSVILLE >> Madison County has only one judge hearing criminal cases.

All of the county's criminal cases since January have been heard by County Court Judge Dennis McDermott, leaving County Court Judge Biagio DiStefano to only hear family court matters.

Cases that were docketed late last year for DiStefano have had to be rescheduled for McDermott.

Why this is happening is unknown.

In January, DiStefano declined comment on the issue; however on Monday, he confirmed that he has been ordered to not hear criminal cases in Madison County.

He can hear criminal cases in Chenango County.

It was not immediately clear if DiStefano was still hearing surrogates court or civil cases in Madison County.

DiStefano declined to provide more information, referring all further questions to Sixth Judicial District Administrative Judge Robert Mulvey, the office that sources say originated DiStefano's order.

Mulvey declined to comment when reached by phone on Monday

He stated that it's a court operations matter and he does not comment on those.

According to state law, a complaint can be made against a judge to the administrative judge for the judicial district in which the court resides, in this case Mulvey, or by contacting the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

Previously, Marissa Harrison, spokesperson for the commission, said her office can neither confirm nor deny any particular case is filed with the commission.

"All matters are confidential," she said.

The State Commission on Judicial Conduct receives and reviews complaints of misconduct against judges in the unified court system, which includes state, county, municipal, town and village courts. After reviewing a complaint, the commission decides to investigate or dismiss it.

Complaints that may be investigated by the commission include improper demeanor, conflicts of interest, bias, prejudice, financial and records mismanagement, among other offenses.

After a formal hearing, the commission may dismiss the complaint or caution the judge privately. The commission may also determine that the judge should be publicly admonished or censured.

Determinations to admonish, censure, remove or retire a judge are subject to review by the state court of appeals.

DiStefano was first elected county court judge in 1998, and re-elected for a second term beginning in 2008 that lasts until 2017.

He is still the pistol licensing official for the county.

Madison County District Attorney William Gabor was unavailable for comment on how the rescheduling will affect the flow of his cases through the system.